padremike Loc: Phenix City, Al

The Devil appeared to Three Monks and said to them: "If I gave you the power to change something in the past, what would you change?"

The first of them, with great Apostolic Fervor, replied: "I would like to prevent you from leading Adam and Eve to sin, so that humanity did not become separate from God."

The second, a man full of Mercy, said to him: "I will prevent you from straying from God and your battle against The Almighty, being condemned forever."

The Third of them was the simplest and instead of answering the Tempter, he knelt down, made The Sign of The Holy Cross, and prayed: "Lord, deliver me from the temptation of what might have been and what was not."

Satan screaming and trembling with pain, fled.

The other two were surprised and said to him: "Brother, why did you react like this?"

And he answered them: “First, we should never talk to the Enemy.”

“Secondly, no one in this world has the power to change the past.”

“Third: Satan’s interest was not to prove our Virtue, but to Trap us in the past, so that we neglect the present, the only time Almighty God gives us His Grace and we can cooperate with Him to fulfill His will.”

Of all the Demons, the one that most holds men back and prevents them from being happy is “what could have been and was not.” The past is left to the Mercy of Almighty God and the future to His Divine Providence. Only the present is in our hands. Live today loving God with all your heart.

Rose42

Thats a good reminder padre.

padremike Loc: Phenix City, Al

Indeed it is Rose. My Bishop sent it to me and I thought is good to share with my fellow Vhristians like you.

Zemirah Loc: Sojourner En Route...

Your humble little third monk is speaking forth wisdom accumulated from the Word of God through the ages, Padre.


These ten paragraphs encompass a profound wisdom which I still struggle to absorb and retain after eighty years...

The Biblical admonition to ask God to rebuke Satan on our behalf is the quickest, IMHO, for who does not realize that engaging that foul serpent under our own power will result in being ground into the pavement as by a steam roller.

Whereas the sorrowful "only ifs" and the "why did I not...?" soulful recriminations are very difficult to let discontinue, - even after having thrown all our cares upon His shoulders, as He requests we do.

Human self pride is the hardest vice to forego.

padremike Loc: Phenix City, Al

Indeed. Pride was the very first sin and it continues to be a huge part of every sin.

Armageddun Loc: The show me state